Welcome to Midnight Mania!
Let’s start the night off by taking a look back over the three biggest stories of Friday, April 3, 2026.
- Cold shoulder? Cut UFC fighter learns she got fired from a fan’s Instagram comment: In a world where workers commonly find out about their layoff via email, UFC fighters can’t even get a text.
- Alex Pereira tears down UFC fighter over Jon Jones prediction: ‘You were crying’: I still don’t understand why “Poatan” flipped his lid over a fairly respectful prediction. It’s MMA, somebody is going to lose, and that somebody usually isn’t Jon Jones!
- Fact or fiction? UFC Lightweight Paddy Pimblett claims he steps into the cage at 191 pounds: One has to wonder if another loss or two would send Pimblett up to Welterweight.
Insomnia
Conor McGregor is back in the ring! Exhibition or not, this is a step in the right direction for the Irish star.
Francis Ngannou may be turning 40 this year, but I don’t think anyone is lining up to eat those punches.
I feel like this trash talk would work better if employed by somebody who has not lost to Tyson Fury three times.
Absurdly fun Featherweight violence heading to Perth:
I hope RIZIN continues to grow and be a viable alternative to the UFC for top talent.
Luke Rockhold spent his whole career grinding with the best wrestlers in the sport, a trend which apparently hasn’t stopped in retirement.
Slips, rips, and KO clips
This looks to be a classic case of a fighter punching himself out while chasing the finish — Byrne’s punches appear to have lost major steam.
Brutal close range work both in the clinch and on the exit:
Ex-UFC Middleweight Nick Maximov is known for his wrestling, but his hands have come a long way! The 28-year-old hasn’t tasted defeat in his last seven fights since being released from the UFC.
Random Land
Incredible work from the Sherpas.
Get involved with Mania community in The Feed!
Midnight Music: Hip-hop, 1989
Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.
